James Cameron

A Retrospective

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Pub Date 22 Nov 2022 | Archive Date 17 Jan 2023

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Description

James Cameron is the most successful filmmaker of all time by some margin. Which is something we tend to take for granted. The question at the heart of his story isn’t only how this came about, but what is it about Cameron that makes him such a universal storyteller? Cinema has had its godlike directors, lifting it up into new spaces, but he is their Zeus. The man who made the biggest film of all time, Titanic, then topped that by making the next biggest film of all time, Avatar. Encapsulating not only the magnitude of James Cameron as a filmmaker but the minutiae too – the incredible stories of an artist whose commitment to the medium knows few bounds. The tales behind the films are as epic as the films themselves. The astonishing making of The Abyss, much of it shot submerged in a decommissioned nuclear plant, could fill a book on its own. James Cameron: A Retrospective is an enthralling and beautifully illustrated film-by-film biography – from The Terminator to Aliens to Avatar 2 – of the most popular director in movie history.

James Cameron is the most successful filmmaker of all time by some margin. Which is something we tend to take for granted. The question at the heart of his story isn’t only how this came about, but...


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ISBN 9781786751140
PRICE $39.95 (USD)
PAGES 224

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Featured Reviews

In 1977, a 22-year-old special effects artist called James Cameron queued up to see Star Wars with his two friends. A few hours later, the young Canadian left the cinema in a state of rage.as he recognised George Lucas was doing everything he wanted to do himself. The next day, he quit his job and dedicated himself to filmmaking.
Within five years, he had at least partly achieved his goal, directing his first ever film, Piranha II: The Spawning, the sequel to an earlier horror helmed by future Gremlins director, Joe Dante.
Make no mistake: Piranha II was rubbish. But Cameron was on his way. The next forty years would see Cameron become one of the most successful filmmakers ever, creating a number of landmark movies, all for some reason, with titles starting with the letters, ''A' or 'T'.
The Terminator: The violent time travel classic which made Arnie a star. Aliens, a sequel which arguably surpassed even Ridley Scott's chilling original. The Abyss: a nightmare to shoot but nevertheless a great, if flawed, film. T2: Another great sequel. True Lies: A sometimes iffy action comedy. Then the box office wonders, Titanic and Avatar. And then lots and lots of Avatar sequels forever and ever into the future.
Veteran British movie writer, Ian Nathan has produced yet another intelligent, well-written pictrure book on one of the great filmmakers of our age.

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A photographical journey through James Cameron's career with vivid photos and recollections. For film buffs and fans of good movies.

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Wonderful deep dive into the career of the great James Cameron. This book takes you through his career movie by movie with plenty of pictures from the films, behind the scenes photos, and quotes from the director himself and those closest to him. Highly recommend this to anyone who considers themselves a fan of Cameron's work and releasing just in time for the new Avatar film hitting theaters.

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It was a pleasure reading this book. It provides insightful backstories to film produced by James Cameron. I find it quite inspirational, reading about a young 22 years old James who gave up his job in order to pursue his passion. A lesson of determination, persistence and hard work.

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